Po Escarlin Pozo
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO. - This May 8th dawned shrouded in gray. From the early hours, an air of mourning and remembrance hung in the air. It was a day that reopened a wound that has yet to heal, recalling that fateful April 8th when the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed, plunging the country into deep grief.
One month after the tragedy, pain, tears, and despair returned to ground zero with the presence of family members, loved ones, and citizens, who attended a solemn mass in honor of the 233 victims who lost their lives in one of the worst tragedies the nation has ever experienced.
Several signs with messages demanding justice hung from the fences that still surround the structure. Lit candles, flowers, and photos of the deceased remain, transforming this space into a place of mourning.
The days that followed the disaster
The dilapidated Jet Set building was seized by authorities. (Photo/EL INMOBILIARIO).
Just hours after the collapse, the country began to fill with heartbroken faces. Families flocked to the site hoping to find their loved ones alive. Some succeeded; others, sadly, did not.
On April 10, authorities announced the end of the search and rescue efforts, beginning one of the most difficult moments: the removal of all the debris to comb the area.
The following day, the Government announced the creation of a team of national and international experts, under the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (ONESVIE), to determine the causes of the collapse.
Reactions and responsibilities
As the days passed, questions began to emerge from the tears, giving way to the courage of the victims' family and friends, who raised their voices in search of justice.
Among them was singer and chorus girl Zulinka, daughter of merengue singer Rubby Pérez, who asked for justice for her father, after he lost his life while entertaining the crowd on the night of the collapse at the Jet Set.
On April 16, the Minister of Housing and Buildings, Carlos Bonilla, announced a bill that seeks to strengthen the supervision of old buildings with high traffic.
Similarly, Senator Omar Fernández proposed a legislative project with ten urgent measures: from the National Registry of Victims to the priority protection of the orphans of the tragedy.
Flowers and candles were placed yesterday to mark the first month since the tragedy. (Photo/HOY NEWSPAPER).
When the calendar struck April 23, the country was waiting to hear from Jet Set owner Antonio Espaillat, who decided to participate in an interview on the program “El Día”.
In response to journalist Edith Febles, Espaillat revealed that the premises were never subjected to a structural inspection by the State and that, since the day of its acquisition in 1994, the building suffered from leaks.
That same day, lawyer Francisco Álvarez stated that the Jet Set tragedy is a “complex” case and that it will mark a turning point in Dominican jurisprudence.
On April 29, in an interview on the same program, engineer Frinet Muñoz confirmed what many already suspected: the tragedy could have been avoided.
During his participation, he pointed out obvious failures such as corrosion, overloading and neglect, which should have been detected if the established technical protocols had been applied.
Legislative actions
Following the collapse that marked the nation, a total of 24 legislative proposals, including 15 bills and nine resolutions, have been presented in the National Congress.
Following the loss of her brother, Deputy Lidia Pérez, sister of singer Rubby Pérez, presented a bill for the periodic supervision and inspection of infrastructure.
A persistent pain
Posters put up to mark one month since the tragedy. (Credit/DIARIO LIBRE).
On May 2nd, the wound reopened with the news of the death of Evelyn Navarro, a young woman who had survived the collapse. Her death once again shook a population still emotionally vulnerable.
One day before the first month was up, the Attorney General's Office formally seized the premises where Jet Set operated, officially placing a sign.
Family members file lawsuits
To date, 40 formal legal actions have been filed, including criminal and civil lawsuits, as well as additional complaints, some for theft during the tragedy.
